Brigham turned 4 months old this week and WOW, a lot happened!! He rolled from his back to his tummy a few times, started eating rice cereal once a day, is attempting to hold his own bottle and cut his 1st tooth!! That's a lot for a little guy! All of these milestone events are so much fun! Here are some fun pictures of Brigs. We just LOVE this little guy!
'What in the world are you putting in my mouth mommy?!'
2nd day attempt: 'Oh no! Not this rice cereal stuff again...'
'Are you crazy mommy? Your letting my brother feed me now?'
Oops, a litle up the nose!
Ok, that's enough. Time for a bottle!
He has been recognizing his bottle for a month now, and knows that its his food so gets all excited if he see's it or hears you shaking up the formula. The past few days he has really been grabbing it and bring it to his mouth!
Boston's Stats at 4 Months were:
Weight: 14 pounds, 3 ounces
Height: 24 3/4 inches
Head Circumfrance- 16 1/2 inches
I love comparing the two boys!
Brigham is a healthy and happy little boy, and for that we are grateful! He got 2 shots and screamed real hard right away, but then got his bottle and went right to sleep. I timed that perfectly:)
We are going to wean him from the prevacid that he has been getting since he was about 6 weeks old. I personally don't feel like he ever had reflux to begin with, but we went along with the doctor's suggestion to try the meds. We are going to give him a half a pill in the morning for a few days and if that goes well we will just stop it completely. I hope it goes well!
We are also going to start giving him some rice cereal! I had tried it about a month ago, hoping it would help fill up his tummy before bedtime, but he hated it. I'm hoping he likes it better now, and if not we'll add a little baby food fruit in with it for some yummy flavor. Starting baby food is a fun stage! Still no teeth, but they are coming!
I should also add that I got a 'you really shouldn't let your baby sleep on his tummy' lecture.. I know the chance of SIDS is greater, but i'm sorry.. my baby HATES his back. He has now been a tummy sleeper for 2 months and will soon be able to roll to his tummy when he is tired so i'm not changing anything up now!
Friday morning at 12:40 AM I heard a 'mommy, mommy' coming from the hallway upstairs. I looked out towards the doorway of our room and I see this silhouette of a person holding something long.. It was Boston, sleepwalking, with his toy rifle! Talk about freaky! I asked him why he had his gun in his hand and he said he didn't know. When I took it out of his hands he was shaking a little. I'm not sure if he was having a bad dream or just sleepwalking. After a minute he was alert so I brought him back down to his bed. This morning when I told Derek what had happened (he sleeps through EVERYTHING!) he was all weirded out by it and said we needed to start locking up the knives! I know Boston had his gun in his room from playing yesterday so I'm sure it was just the first toy he saw when he woke up?!
Boston's gun sitting next to my bed in the morning!
Anyway, Brigham is 4 months old today! WOW, that time went crazy fast! He is a pretty content little guy when he isn't tired, or when daddy isn't taking care of him :) He loves watching Boston! I usually set his Bumbo chair on the floor next to Boston and Brigham just watches him play. Brigham has his 4 month check up and shots on Monday morning. I will post his weight and other stats after the appointment. Boston was 14 pounds at 4 months and I'm guessing Brigham is about the same! He is drinking about 5-6 bottles a day, and anywhere from 4-6 ounces each. He is quite consistent about going to bed between 8:30 and 9, and 'knock on wood' doing very well again sleeping through the night. He loves his bath's, playing patty-cake, watching cartoons in the morning, sucking on his fingers and snuggling or chewing on his blankie! His bottom gums are guite bumpy this week and he's been chewing on anything and everything so those 2 bottom teeth have to be close to breaking skin!
This past Monday, I took Brigham to a chiropractor for the first time. I had gotten input from several friends who had gone this route with their babies, and they were all very pleased with the results so we thought we'd give it a try. He still just really hates being on his back, and is still screaming when he is sitting in his car seat. Brigham also really favored tilting his head to one side for the first 3 months, so there is possibly some muscles that need stretching or that is out of alignment somewhere. We know a chiropractor in town so it was reassuring taking him to someone we know and trust. Brigham cried at the appointment, but the Dr. said it's common. We have noticed slight improvements this week, so not sure if it's because of the appointment or if it's just coincidence, but regardless it was worth the $25 copay!
Brigham's 4 month picture!
Brigham sucking on his fingers! These are his favorite 2 :)
He is so happy in the mornings!
Watching a few minutes of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse while I get his bottle ready. I know I am probably a 'bad mom' for letting my 4 month old watch a little tv, but he loves it!
And this is what I mean when I say 'small improvements' after the chiropractor. He hasn't fallen asleep like this since he was a newborn! He just quietly drifted off to sleep in his bouncy. Notice he's holding his blankie :) Precious!
Here is a quick video of my little ham giggling and smiling at his mama :)
And just a few fun pictures of Boston. He is such a sore loser, so we are trying to teach him that there is always a winner and a loser, and that he isn't going to win everything! It doesn't matter if it's a race around the house, a race to finish eating our lunch, a game of candy land or basketball, he gets so MAD if he loses! Here is a picture of him crying after I beat him at a game of PIG. It was a crazy shot that I wasn't even trying hard to make. I'm just that good :)
And here he is 2 minutes later laughing at himself for crying like a baby!
One of my favorite things about being home with the boys... picnic lunches on the deck! It's very interesting lunch coversations with Boston, as you can about imagine!
Have a great weekend everyone! Until next time ...
So everyone knows I love to Blog! I also love Facebook. Sometimes my husband makes comments under his breath that I love these things a little too much :) These two resources have helped me to stay in touch with so many friends and family that are miles away, and have also connected me with complete strangers. Unfortunetely, stumbling across a few of these sites was due to tragic circumstances in their life. A friend would post on their Facebook a link to a blog or CaringBridge site for someone they know that needed prayers. It was maybe someone they knew personally, or quite possible someone that was a stranger to them as well. I have followed these sites religiously ever since I was first introduced. Some days I ask myself WHY I do it. A lot of times they leave me sitting at my computer in a mess of tears or are the culprit of a sleepless night. It doesn't take me long though to answer the question of WHY.. I follow these sites because they have taught me so much about life and being a mother, but most important, they have made my faith so much stronger! I would love to meet some of these family's in person one day, and thank the person doing all of the journaling for deepening my love for the Lord.
I would like to share a few of my favorite sites. I do not know any of these family's personally, yet feel like they are my next door neighbor, if that makes any sense!?
And lastly, I want to share a CaringBridge site for a family in my church, who's husband & daddy went to be with the Lord this past weekend. I can't even put into words how amazing this family's faith has been during these past 2 years. They are a true testimony to the thousands of people who visited their site.
If you bribe a kid with candy...they swim like they have never swam before! Today was Boston's 'testing day' at swimming lessons. I knew he had been doing well the past few weeks so figured he would pass, but I wanted him to try extra hard during testing so I bribed him with a stop at the gast station for candy of his choice! What a great idea, because he swam his best yet! Boston passed to level 2, right along with the kids that are 6 and 7 and at least a head taller than him! I'm so proud of him! The note from his lifeguard on his certification says 'Boston will do very well in level 2! He was always on his best behavior and participated every day! Keep encouraging him to improve. Awesome job!' Now what mom and dad couldn't be proud of that!!??!
Way to go big man! Mom & Dad love you and are so proud of you for swimming your best!
Boston doing his front glide during testing.
Front crawl!
Listening to the life guard!
And here is my handsome man showing off his certificate!
On Wednesday morning, July 13th, we headed to Omaha with our friends (The Elgersma's) to go to the Omaha Zoo. We were wondering a few weeks ago if we were even going to be able to get there because of all the flooding and closed roads. We did detour about 30 miles, but it wasn't too bad. The flooding is crazy to see in person. I was a little scared by the tall sandbags along the roads, keeping the water away. I just kept thinking that at any minute the road could be washed away.. not sure how safe those roads actually are, but we made it safely! We spent about 5 hours at the zoo and then headed to our hotel. The kids were getting tired and we were all getting a little warm! Jada & Boston enjoyed swimming with their dad's while Renae and I took care of the babies. We ended the night with supper at Texas Roadhouse. Derek mentioned I was celebrating a birthday the next day so they brought the saddle over to our table. There was no way I was getting on it so Boston did it for me! The waitresses hooted and hollered their birthday song and the next thing you know, Brigham and Chloe were both screaming! It was a fun night! We enjoyed getting away from home for a few days and will definetely be planning another mini vacation with them! I think Boston's former girlfriends may have some competition because he sure loves hanging out with Jada!
Our group at the zoo! The kids were so good!
I guess Derek thought it would be fun to make a 'i'm so scared of the sharks' face :)
The aquariam is Boston's favorite part of the zoo. He could have watched the sharks for hours!
Boston & Jada
A picnic lunch in a perfect spot :)
Renae and I
Derek & J standing in line for the Skyfari.
I love the Gorilla exhibit!
Boston's impression of the Tiger. Scary!
Renae and I with the kids on the Skyfari. Renae isn't a big fan of heights but she was brave!
Relaxing in the hot tub!
Brigham wasn't quite sure what to think. The water was a bit chilly!
Thanks for the invite Elgersma family! We had a great time and hope to do it again sometime!
On Saturday, July 9th, Derek's brother Jeff got married to G! We are very happy for them, and wish them many happy married years together!! Derek and I were both attendants, and Boston was the ring bearer so it was a busy day for our family! My mom watched Brigham for the day, so it was nice not having him to worry about. The wedding and reception went great. Derek was in charge of keeping the guests entertained at the reception, and he did great! He's a natural when it comes to that kind of stuff. He got so many compliments, and also had several people saying that he should get his own radio or tv show! I'm the complete opposite. I get anywhere near a microphone and a crowd of people watching me and I about pass out. On Sunday, the Gerdes family got together at Jeff & G's apartment for gift opening, lunch, and swimming! We ended the day with a stop at Cherry Berry. Poor Tim.. he always gets picked on. He wasn't aware of the '39 cents a ounce', so he filled up his bowl to the top! I think his yogurt alone was over $10! Well worth it though, right Tim?!
The Sister-in-Laws! Shana, G, Myself & Chelsea. We are a good-lookin bunch of ladies!
Bride & Groom with the men in the wedding!
Boston is such a handsome little guy, and a pro at being ring bearer! This was his 3rd wedding!
Glady and her kids.
Glady and her kids with their spouses!
The entire Gerdes clan! Not sure how these professional pictures will turn out. It was so hard to get everyone smiling...with their eyes open, right Ja & Shana!?
My beautiful family :)
2 of the best lookin men at the wedding!
Mama and B
This is one of my favorite pictures of the day. Jeff is wearing Jerry's wedding band, so I snapped a picture of the ring tied to the ring bearer pillow right before the wedding.
Mr. & Mrs. Jeff Gerdes!
And one last picture of Boston & Jeremiah being silly with the swim goggles at gift opening! Jeremiah LOVES Lightning McQueen so he thought Boston's goggles were so cool. I'm not sure he could see though :)
